HB207 Subcommittee Hearing

 Here's our treasurer, Bianca Wooden's story from yesterday's subcommitte hearing in which HB207 passed with very favorable amendments.

At 2pm today, I walked into the Public Health and Human Services subcommittee hearing, exhausted. I had spent Sunday baking brownies, making copies of handouts, and packing up everything I needed to host a “Meet & Greet” in the Rotunda at the state capitol. Sunday night was long one, with 5 of us piled into a Jackson hotel room, one very fussy baby, and my thoughts racing. Monday morning came around too soon – up and out the door for 2 radio interviews. Admittedly, kind of exciting, but stress inducing none the less. ( I mean, how can a regular mom like me who can’t even complete an entire grocery list in one trip, represent the feelings of the 500 supporters of Mississippi Friends of Midwives and also convince the radio listeners that they support HB207.) Then, off to the capitol to serve snacks and refreshments to the folks passing through the rotunda……The next few hours were a blur……talking to people, chasing 1 year old Caprie and wondering what on earth a state congressional hearing is like.

So, I plopped down in the seat in Room 103 unsure what I would say or if I even had the energy to form a sentence. This was my first time attending a hearing. It was even my first time speaking to a representative in person. I am not a lobbyist or activist. But, this bill is important to me, so I renegotiated my duties and have squeezed this in to my list of responsibilities. Of the 16 members of the subcommittee, only 3 were present for the hearing today.

Thankfully, there were at least 10 other women there today who did the same thing. They spent up to 8 hours in the car to drive there and back, they found babysitters, they rearranged their budget to find gas money, they took time off work, they made this a priority. Several women spoke in support of the bill: consumers, midwives, student midwives. They spoke honestly and from their heart - the passion shined through. The main message was what we have been saying all along.
• Women give birth at home and hire direct entry midwives, the women of MS deserve a system that will allow them to verify the competency of a midwife and file a grievance against incompetent midwives.

• MS needs direct entry midwives , but we need to define what a direct entry midwife is exactly, and it makes sense to use the NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) recommended CPM (Certified Professional Midwife). We didn’t want this law to eliminate the midwives currently practicing, but we do want to move forward to improving our standards.

• Currently practicing midwives are vulnerable to prosecution under our current legal situation. In other states similar to our, midwives have been arrested and jailed.

• By having a law that defines a direct entry midwife, our state will be more protected against opposing forces introducing a law to restrict births to hospital only.

After we got those points across, the Department of Health (DOH) spoke. First, they recognized that direct entry midwives and home birthing families have a place in MS and the DOH wants that practice to continue. Everyone in the room seemed to agree with that. Next, what they said made me nervous. She went on to explain that the DOH currently regulates 17 professions and it is a very expensive and intensive process to do. She said, there would have to be OB oversight and they simply don’t have the money to do this. Well, this was news to me, because how I had understood the bill, a volunteer board made of midwives, consumers and a Dr. would handle all that. The bill was written specifically so that it would not cost money or need oversight – It was to be a self regulated by the Midwives Board. The DOH held strong that if it is under their wing, they are required to oversee it – and that means OBs regulating home birth. I don’t think any one in the room wanted that . Certainly not me, and not the legislators or the DOH.

Then, Rep. Omeria Scott started brainstorming a bit. How can we accomplish all these goals at no cost and keep the DOH out of it? After some back and forth questioning, she proposed that we simplify. She suggested that the state require all midwives obtain a CPM credential. Those CPM are required to “Register” with the DOH (a Registration, not a License). And, since almost all currently practicing midwives are not CPMs, give them until 2015 to become a CPM. That’s it.

Well, HECK YEAH, Of course thats what we want. That is what we wanted all along, all that other hoopla was in there because we thought we needed that to get the bill passed.
I walked out the door, ecstatic. Thrilled with the amended bill. If passed, this bill would improve the midwifery care in our state, it would establish a career path for women to become midwives, it would protect us from incompetent midwives using our state as a safe-haven and it would provide a little protection against a bill to make direct entry midwives illegal. (see note at the end).

So , now what? Honestly, my husband is wondering when I am going to get back to my regular work – keeping the laundry clean, the fridge full, homework completed and dinner on the table. My 6 year old wants her full time mommy back. And Caprie doesn’t want to spend 6 hours in the car again. Family, you are going to have to wait a little longer. I am going to give this all I have got. I don’t think I will be able to do it again anytime soon, so I must capitalize on the momentum we have to keep going. I can't do it alone. I can't do it with the dozen or so women that are fully engaged. We need more people or all is lost.

Here is the Reality. This amended bill needs to heard and voted on by the full Public Health and Human Services committee no later than Tuesday, Feb 1st. That is a house rule. Then, there are more steps (each with deadlines). If passed by the Committee, it will go to the floor of the House for a vote. Then, it moves to the Senate where it goes to Subcommittee, then Committee, then the floor of the Senate. This all happens by the end of March – 10 weeks.

I learned today that calls and emails are great. (Rep. Coleman told me before the meeting, “I don’t know how I feel about this bill, but I got a lot of emails about it, so I am going to hear what you have to say.”) And, it is important to have media coverage (The Legislators pay attention to what is in the media, the morning radio piece was even referenced in the hearing). But, it is CRITICAL that people show up in Jackson when there is a vote (like today). A friend of mine, had her 3 children in the car for 6 hours today and didn’t speak at the hearing, but her presence in the room meant a lot to those Representatives.

We need you!!!! My next post will explain EXACLTY how you can help.

Note: During the hearing the Representatives insisted that they would NEVER let home birth be eliminated from our state, they would always protect midwives and home birth. There was an immediate uproar, “YOU voted to outlaw homebirth last year in this very committee.” 2010 HB695 passed through the subcommittee, committee and to the house floor where it was voted in by a very large margin. They apologized for that. : )

The "Why's" of Our Midwifery Bill

Many questions have been raised lately as to why we want to actively pursue government regulation of midwives when currently Mississippi does not. 

The answer is simple.

Protection.

Under current laws, any one can claim to be a midwife and practice midwifery.

Because of this, many midwives who have lost their right to practice midwifery in other states for one reason or another come to our state to set up shop.

These are the same midwives that prompted last year's bill from the Nursing Board that essentially would have made homebirth illegal and only hospital-based Certified Nurse Midwives legal.

Three such midwives had come in from other states where they had previously lost their license and begin a practice in Mississippi. 

Three bad midwives with bad outcomes...

Not a pretty picture.

That's why our bill is SO important.

It will instill confidence in the consumer in their health care provider.

One of our supporters composed this lovely email with her perspective on the importance of the passage of this bill and the regulation/licensure of Certified Professional Midwives:

To the honorable members of the Mississippi State House of Representatives Public Health and Human Services Subcommittee #2,

I write to you to urge your support for HB207, which would regulate the practice of Certified Professional Midwives in the state of Mississippi.... I am a Registered Nurse with a particular interest in the area of women's health and midwifery.

Women will choose to birth at home for a variety of reasons, and they will do so regardless of what statutes are in place. It is our responsibility to ensure that home birth is a safe choice for the sake of the health of these women and the babies they give birth to. 

Regulating and credentialing Certified Professional Midwives ensures that the women of Mississippi who choose a home birth (as they have a constitutionally supported right to) will have access to a knowledgeable practitioner, and not be tak...en advantage of by unskilled, untrained fly-by-night practitioners. It will also help ensure continuity of care in the event that a home to hospital transfer becomes necessary.

Home birth has been shown to be a safe practice in many countries. In recent years, for example, a few Australian teaching hospitals have begun umbrella homebirth programs with Nurse Midwives in attendance, and the outcomes are comparable to hospital based birthing.

Please support the passage of this bill for the health and safety of all women of childbearing age in Mississippi, and to support and uphold their right of choice.

Yours truly,

Virginia Becker, RN

Have YOU contacted these committee members?

Please take 5 minutes to do so.

We will have our first hearing before these members on Monday at 2 p.m. and they need to come into the meeting feeling the pressure to support HB207!!

Need email addresses? Here they are and ready to easily copy and paste to send one mass email to all the subcommittee members.

Now, you have no excuse ;)

oscott@house.ms.gov; tbarker@house.ms.gov; bmoak@house.ms.gov; bmoak@locnet.net; gflaggs@house.ms.gov; jsmith@house.ms.gov; jread@house.ms.gov; wjones@house.ms.gov; ffredericks@house.ms.gov; cespy@house.ms.gov; bcurrie@house.ms.gov; mcoleman@house.ms.gov; treynolds@house.ms.gov; beaton@house.ms.gov; jevans@house.ms.gov; bbroomfield@house.ms.gov

HB 207 is in Subcommittee

HB 207 was assigned to Subcommittee 2. The office personnel advised that they would likely take the bills home over the weekend to begin reviewing and start scheduling Monday and Tuesday of next week. She stated that the subcommittee meetings are open to the public and she will post the schedule online if it is given to her. Here are the email addresses and contact information of just the subcommittee members. We can begin emailing and calling now.

Get Thee to the Capitol!

It is so very important that as many of us as possible take the time and physically go to the Capitol and meet with our Legislators. It may seem intimidating to some, but remember they are employed by us and for us.

Their job depends on you! 

One of our board members, Charis Delatte, took the opportunity to go to the Capitol today to distribute the goodie bags we made at the Push Party this past Saturday. She was accompanied by 2 of our other members and their children as well as her own daughter.

Here is a summary of her visit today as well as some pointers for future visitors:

Mississippi Friends of Midwives Members with Rep. Steve Holland

My First Visit to the Capitol

Let me begin by saying that I missed the politickin' genes of my family. I don't typically get jazzed up about shaking hands and convincing people to stand behind what I'm selling.

Today I made my first visit to the capitol to talk with as many of the Board of Public Health and Human Services members as I could. I took some notes from this visit and I'd like to share them with you. These are specific to our own state capitol building and may not apply anywhere else.

1. Dress appropriately - Southern politicians, their aides and secretaries all dress well. They seem surprised to see women NOT dressed like they're supposed to be there.

2. Be as organized and thorough as possible before you go. - This is likely a no brainer to most, but I thought I had it all together when I left the house.

3. If you are handing out packets, goodie bags, or any other paraphernalia, have the names and office numbers of each person you intend to see written ON the package. Go a step further and put them in numerical order by floor and room number. This will avoid looking at your "list" and getting funny looks from standers-by.

4. Bring your kiddo if you must, but leave the stroller at home. I thought I was doing myself a favor by having it, but the offices that these folks work in are SO SMALL! and the elevator is too. Even with just my umbrella stroller it was too much. Use a carrier instead.

5. Don't leave your self-confidence at the door. There are security checks, sideways glances, annoyed secretaries, and men in bow-ties! Remember why you are there, and that these people work for you! A little lipstick doesn't hurt either.

6. You don't have to do it alone. Call a friend, a board member, a sister, a husband. Take someone with you to remind yourself that you're not the "only" person who is in favor of this!

7. Cell Phone reception is not good, and they really aren't allowed anyway. I took my smart phone hoping to not fiddle with paper as much, but the signal was so bad that it took WAAAAY longer than looking up the information on a sheet of paper would. Better yet, just see #3

8. Try not to panic when the politicians kiss your kid. It's what they do.

Good Luck,

Charis Delatte

Contact Information for the Committee Members

Our bill, HB 207, has been assigned to the Public Health and Human Services Committee in the House of Representatives. Here is the contact information for each of the legislators currently serving on that committee. Please share the information and/or the link with anyone who supports us and/or may be willing to call or email the legislators to get them to support this bill.

Point of View

As I am getting everything together this morning for our Push Party and getting excited for things to come for midwifery in our great state, I was thinking about my own reasons for wanting a homebirth. First and foremost, safety and better outcomes for mother and baby were my primary reasons. But after experiencing the birth of my first born child at home, the list greatly expanded and did so again after my second child was born. 

Over the summer, Mississippi Friends of Midwives asked its members to submit a brief article about their reasons for choosing homebirth and midwifery care to Parents and Kids Magazine. One that really touched me was written by Melissa Barlow. Here is what she had to say:

As I sit here in the early morning watching my four month old daughter sleep, I recall wonderful moment I met her first. Surrounded by my husband, daughter, doula and midwife in my bedroom squatting beside the bed, I was being told “You are doing just amazing,” I looked up at my husband, who was supporting me from behind and said, “With this next one, we are going to do this. I CAN do this!”

And then I did. 

My warm, wet baby was placed on my chest and dried, as I cried “My baby, I love you so much. I can’t believe we did this. It was such hard work, but we did it!” She took her first breaths and cried. I had waited for months to hear that cry and to hold this little person.

It really was a moment I was afraid I would never experience. My oldest daughter’s birth was not nearly so beautiful. In the hospital with bright lights, I saw her for the first time after she was cut from my belly. While I loved her just as greatly, it took nearly a decade for me to gather the courage to try again.

My midwife spent hours at appointments in my living room listening to my fears and concerns, all the while assuring me that I could birth my baby. I could trust my body to do what it was built to do. When this birth actually happened, I almost could not believe I actually did it. How empowering it was.

In my opinion, that is what midwives do. 

They empower women to be strong, confident mothers.

Written by Melissa Barlow, consumer of midwife and homebirth services in the central Mississippi area.

What were your initial reasons for choosing a midwife-attended homebirth? Did your perspective and reasons change after the birth of your child?

House Bill 207

You can find our filed bill on the Mississippi Legislative website under bill status:

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2011/pdf/history/HB/HB0207.xml

So, I guess that makes it official?!

Now, we need YOUR help to get this bill passed!

Come to our Push Party this Saturday to find out what you can do to support our cause!

Can't come? You can always donate to our organization anytime from the comfort of your computer.

Click on the 'donate' button at the top of the blog!

The Heart of Midwifery

One of the most dedicated forces behind our legislative push is certified professional midwife, Renata Hillman.  She has been serving families in Mississippi since 1981 and will hopefully, continue to do so for years to come. This post is an article she wrote and it speaks so clearly as to the importance of allowing women to have the option of midwifery care.

The Heart of Midwifery

 

 How do you explain to someone that has never held their newborn immediately after the birth; the importance of continuity of care that a midwife gives?

How do you recapture those first minutes of family life?

It is nearly impossible…..

Holistic care provided by a skilled, competent midwife is a process most people know little to nothing about. It is so different from the routine care the general public receives in a hurried medical environment.
It is knowing, personally, your caregiver.
But even more, it is being known by that same caregiver.

 

She knows:

-Your individual needs
- Your nutritional patterns and therefore, how to counsel you in nutritional needs
- Your birth history and what you did or didn’t understand or like
-Your birth plans and desires

 

A Certified Professional Midwife knows how to care for a healthy, well-educated, low risk expectant Mother. She knows how to assess for complications and how to manage them or refer them to a specific care provider outside of her practice. She knows how to guide the Mother and Family through pregnancy, birth, and the period after the birth.

 

All of this to accomplish, not a routine birth, but the birth the Mother desired to have; respecting the Family’s rights, wishes, and plans while providing thorough, competent, considerate care.
Midwives are still a respected caregiver all across the globe for the expectant Mother.
American families are returning to the traditional caregiver for their maternity care once again
 

 

Renata Hillman
Certified Professional Midwife
Serving Mississippi Families since 1981